Heather Fraser Brainerd's Blog, page 4

I am the champion.

I won this!

Season 19 of Dancing with the Stars may be behind us, but the awards ceremony for our Dancing with the Stars Fantasy League was just recently held. I was fortunate enough to be the DWTSFL Season 19 Champion, while my sister Carlie was named MVP. In honor of this event, I decided to interview the DWTSFL Commissioner, who also happens to be my brother Dave.

Heather: Mr. Commissioner, it���s an honor to have you here today.

Dave (AKA The Commish): Yes, it certainly is.

Heather: Could you please explain how the Season 19 DWTSFL champion was determined?

The Commish: Once the DWTS Season 19 cast was announced, all league participants ranked them by their expected finish. We held a draft in random order, with selections made based on everyone’s preseason rankings. Heather’s name came up first in random order, so she got the first pick. She chose Alfonso Ribeiro, who was the overall favorite. He won, getting her a trophy as well. Not a mirror ball trophy, though. Those things are too expensive.

Heather: How about the MVP?

The Commish: The MVP, or Most Valuable Picker, was the person whose ranking was the most accurate. I have an Excel spreadsheet that automatically calculated this. I’d describe it, but I���m very sick today and don’t feel like it.

Heather: Were you at all tempted to cheat and award both trophies to yourself?

The Commish: No, and I’m insulted that you would even suggest that. Actually, yes, but I didn’t think I could get away with it, since everyone knew my celebrity was the first one eliminated.

Heather: What big things are planned for Season 20 of DWTSFL?

The Commish: This season, the draft will not be in random order. It will be based on Season 19 performance. The Rules Committee, comprised of the Commissioner and the Vice-Commissioner (also me), will meet to review any proposed rule changes, primarily in the MVP calculation algorithm. Also, we are striving to avoid the scandals that are plaguing our fellow major sports leagues. There will be random performance enhancing drug testing, as well as secret in-home surveillance. Oops. I guess that’s not so secret anymore. Forget I said that last part.

Well, there you have it, folks. If anyone is interested in joining the Dancing with the Stars Fantasy League, please leave a comment below. Of course, all slots in this highly coveted competition are taken, but we���d be happy to add your name to our waiting list. (Note to Commissioner: start a waiting list.)

An Interview with Paul D. Smith, author and lifelong fan of science fiction, fantasy, and superhero stories.

The title of this post came straight from Paul’s author biography. We liked it so much, we decided to borrow it!

Brainerd & Fraser: Welcome, Paul!��What drew you to writing for young adults?

Paul Smith: My main goal was to write a story I could read to my two boys. My wife reads to them quite often, so I thought how fun it would be to read something to them I actually wrote. My goal is not to write JUST for youth, but really something all ages would enjoy. However, if you want to write something that kids will read, then it needs to be accessible for them.

B&F: We can���t help but notice the similarity between the title of your book, Jason and the Draconauts, and Jason and the Argonauts. Is there a golden fleece in your story? Or, perhaps, a golden hoodie?

PS: HA! No, but I did purposely twist the title from the classic. I think it promotes a sense of adventure, but still leaves you wanting to find out what a Draconaut is.

B&F: You’re from Binghamton, NY, just like Rod Serling. Would you cite him as one of your influences?

PS: Unfortunately, no. Rod Serling is huge around here, and I was at a convention last year where his daughter was a guest of honor, but I never was into his work that much. I am originally from Rochester, NY, but at this point I���ve lived longer in Binghamton than Rochester.

B&F: Who is your favorite superhero and why? How about your least favorite?

PS: Oh, now you���re asking the really tough questions! I think I have to default to Spider-man as a favorite. Peter Parker is such a great character and such a departure from the stereotypical superhero that you can���t help BUT like him when you really get to know him. Up there on the list though are Green Lantern, Captain America and Thor.

As far as the least favorite, there are some real stinkers that have been created over the years. Some of them were so bad that they were almost humorous. I can���t say I have a least favorite, however, but a character that is poorly written is one I stay away from. So I don���t blame the character, but the writer. My best example is a specific writer that will remain nameless that did this god-awful run on the X-Men a while back. The fans hated him so much that they demanded he get kicked off the book, and he made a lot of the characters we all loved seem terrible.

B&F: What do you think of the upcoming Harry Potter spin-off films?

PS: I like to give any new idea a chance. It sounds like Ms. Rowling is bringing together the same team that made some of the better Harry Potter movies, so who knows?

And now it’s time for the rapid-fire round…

Dumbledore or Gandalf?��Gandalf, hands down.

Han Solo or Tony Stark?��GAH! That is like being asked to choose which of your children is your favorite. I think the Millenium Falcon is cool and all, but give me a suit of Stark-Tech armor any day.

Battlestar Galactica: Old or new?��Definitely new. No fuzzy robot dog or ship of lights.

Aries or Athena?��Gotta go with Athena. Ares seems to be always portrayed as a bad guy.

Apple or Android?��Android! Galaxy S5 is the awesomeness!

The creature hiding in the barn can���t exist. Fifteen-year-old Jason Hewes knows it���s impossible. A live dinosaur would be more believable; at least dinosaurs once roamed the land which is now the Hewes Montana farm. But this beast from legend? Quite impossible���although it doesn���t seem to be going away just because it shouldn���t exist.

Jason is about to reevaluate what is or isn���t possible. His discovery is very real, leathery wings and all. Nor is his new friend alone. Others of his kind are awakening from a centuries-long slumber. Realizing how traumatic contact between mythological beast and modern life could be, Jason and his impossible new ally devise a plan to integrate the newly awakened creatures into society through teenage interaction. What could possibly go wrong?

As the sound of giant wings becomes a common occurrence on the Hewes family farmstead, a malignant force senses his old enemies are flying again. Determined to end an eons-long war forever, this being turns his attention to a small rural Montana town, a family farm, and Jason Hewes.

Find Jason and the Draconauts on Amazon.

Paul Smith lives in upstate New York with his wife and two sons, where he works with emotionally disturbed and mentally ill children. He earned a master���s degree in social sciences from Binghamton University in 1999.

A lifelong love of science fiction, fantasy, and superhero stories influences Paul���s writing. His most recent work was a popular weekly online series that generated over 20,000 views. Jason and the Draconauts is his first novel.

Find Paul on Twitter, Facebook, and his blog.

 

Bundle up on Black Friday

Hey there, folks. This is Dave, bringing you a special Black Friday blog. In the spirit of the day, I will first try to make you buy something you don’t want or need. The second book in the José Picada, P.I. series, The Sound of Sirens, will soon be celebrating its first birthday. It is also included in a new bundle of mystery books from MuseItUp Publishing, titled Sirens on Death Starke Blvd. Also included in this bundle is Starke Naked Dead by Conda V. Douglas, Death Scene by Sara-Jayne Townsend, and Sunshine Boulevard by J.Q. Rose, available November 28 at an e-reader near you. Get it on Amazon now for the low, low price of only $1.99. Wait, did I just say that you can get four fantastic books for the low, low price of only $1.99? Yes, I did. Don’t believe me? Check it out here. And while you’re at it, check out these Black Friday posts from our fellow bundlers J.Q. Rose and Conda Douglas.

So there’s the sales pitch. Now onto more interesting stuff. Last year, we brought you a report on Thanksgiving leftovers by father and son duo Arthur and Al Simpson. This time around, we’ll let them tell you what they made for the big day itself. Take it away, Al and Arthur.

Al: A typical Thanksgiving is just me and my father. This year, however, my brother Jim came to town with his family. This meant two things. First, I was cooking for a lot more people. Second, I had to make it even more awesome than usual. It doesn’t matter how old we get, me and my brother will always have a running game of one-upsmanship. So the turkey had to be the best ever. I gave it the regular brushed coating of olive oil and seasoning, but the real kicker was what I put on the inside. Some people pack the bird full of stuffing, which might taste good, but it can mess with the cooking. I put in rosemary, thyme, garlic, onion slices, and orange wedges. It flavored the turkey from the inside out. And I’m happy to say that Jim had four helpings of turkey. I win.

Arthur: My contribution to the dinner was in the vegetable department. Namely, the green beans. I will share my special recipe. Follow it and your family/guests will ooh and ah with delight.

1) Open a can of green beans

2) Pour them into a pan

3) Cook them on the stove

4) Put them in a bowl

5) Turn off the oven before you burn the house down

6) Season with salt, pepper, cinnamon, and lemon juice

7) Rinse them off and season again, this time with just salt and pepper

So there’s our annual Simpson Family Thanksgiving report. Thanks, guys. I’d now like to share something completely unrelated, and completely useless. For the past few years, I wanted to start up a Dancing With The Stars Fantasy League. I finally got around to it for Season 19, which ended a few days ago. We had a draft and everything. I’d like to announce that the winner of our league, the person that drafted Alfonso Ribeiro, the real life winner, was none other than Heather Fraser Brainerd, the older half of Brainerd & Fraser. Pure chance, really. There wasn’t any skill involved. I mean, he was the clear favorite. On the whole, everyone in our league ranked him far above everyone else before the season started. All her victory means is that a random algorithm gave her the top draft pick. So congratulations, Heather, on your completely arbitrary victory. And no, I’m not bitter that my dancer was the first eliminated.

Get bundled up!

Two of our ebooks have been selected for “book bundles” ~ yay!

Deception Al Dente (our first mystery featuring newbie detective Josie Cates) is part of the 3-book bundle Prodigies of Mystery Limited Edition I. You can find it on MuseItUp Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, and Kobo. For now, it’s just $0.99.

The Sound of Sirens (Josie’s second adventure) will be in the mystery bundle Sirens on Death Starke Blvd. This collection, releasing November 28th, features four books in one. With a retail of value of $20.90, you can preorder it now for the discounted price of $1.99 from MuseItUp and Amazon.

Pick up both bundles and stay cozy this winter!

Joan Curtis: Review + Interview

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of The Clock Strikes Midnight by Joan C. Curtis, a mystery due out on November 25th. Here’s my review:

When main character Janie learns of her devastating prognosis, she knows she must finish a task she started twenty years prior. This means going back to her home town of Atlanta, a place she’d vowed never to visit again. A lot has changed since she left home, and she finds her sister Marlene in a bad way. As both sisters move through dangerous situations, they learn that they have to face the past – something they’ve both tried to bury.

This book has a strong plot and very good characterization. I enjoyed the way the author wove together three points of view – that of Janie, Marlene, and their mother Eloise. There were many twists and turns – with a final surprise that I did not see coming. In fact, I stayed up way too late for two nights in a row because I simply wanted to see what happened next.

I really enjoyed this book, and recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery.

* * * *

And now, we welcome author Joan Curtis for an interview. Let’s get right to it!

Brainerd & Fraser: The Clock Strikes Midnight is a thrilling read. What inspired this story?

Joan Curtis: Don’t you know? My exciting life inspired the story. Ha! If that were true. It’s hard to say what inspires a story. This one began with a simple idea and the characters ran away with it. Things just started happening as more characters came on the stage. I really can’t pinpoint a single moment of inspiration.

B&F: According to your website, your stories “are told from a woman’s point of view.” Have you ever tried to write from the male perspective?

JC: Actually, the original version of The Clock Strikes Midnight had more points of view. It helped me to get to know the characters that way. I wrote from Peter’s point of view as well as Mark’s. I really hated eliminating Peter’s internal thoughts because he became such a rich and interesting character. Perhaps that will inspire me to write my next book from the man’s viewpoint. Who knows?

Oh, yes, the story, Butterflies in a Strawberry Jar which is posted on Wattpad is from the male point of view up until it’s exciting end.

B&F: We understand that you have published several nonfiction business-y books. Was it difficult to change gears from nonfiction to fiction?

JC: I started writing fiction and then turned to nonfiction. I made the change because I thought it might be easier to publish nonfiction and the business books were related to my work. I knew a lot of stuff—so why not write about it? If you have the courage and enough caffeine in you to read one of my business books, you’ll see there’s a lot of “fiction” in them. I created examples to illustrate my points.

I find fiction so much more exhilarating to write because you can let you characters run away with you (your imagination runs rampant.) With nonfiction, even though I tossed in some fictional examples, I had to stick to the real world. Just plain isn’t as much fun to write :)

B&F: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

JC: Italy. That’s an easy question. I never want to go anywhere else. A dream of mine is to live there. But, maybe if I did I wouldn’t love it as much. Love from afar is the best kind, right?

B&F: What are your future goals?

JC: Okay I gave one away in the previous question. My ideal life would look like this: Living 6 months in a chateau in Umbria while writing new stories and then living the next 6 months in my home in Athens Georgia while writing. I’d have cats all around me in both settings and many friends.

I will note that on past trips to Italy, I spotted artists living in the small villages with their canvases. I used to think, “Imagine that life. Living in this beautiful spot and painting all day to your hearts content.” I guess my dream is to replace the painting (since stick figures are my forte) with writing. Move over Frances Mays, I’m on my way.

And now it’s time for the rapid fire round!

Coffee or tea? Yikes! Coffee absolutely

Marinara or alfredo? Marinara

Roller coaster or merry-go-round? Roller coaster

New York Yankees or Atlanta Braves? Gotta be Atlanta for me!

Benedict Cumberbatch or Basil Rathbone? Okay, so, I admit I had to Google Benedict but once I saw his face, I knew my answer! Benedict Cumberbatch is a great Sherlock, but my all time fav was Jeremy Brett.

This was fun!

Glad you enjoyed it, Joan. We had fun, too!

The Clock Strikes Midnight by Joan C. Curtis

Release date: November 25, 2014

Currently available for preorder at the special price of $2.99 on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and MuseItUp.

How the Common Core Curriculum saved my son

My son used to be a happy, easygoing kid. During the course of eighth grade, his demeanor started to change. He became quiet and withdrawn. When I asked him what was wrong, he couldn’t put it into words.

Then the physical symptoms set in. He began to have mysterious stomach aches. It seemed like a series of quick viruses, though no one else in the family ever got sick. We tried limiting dairy, suspecting a food allergy, to no avail. Things spiraled downhill, and each day that he made it to school seemed like a major victory. I was often called by the school nurse to pick him up early due to stomach problems. By the end of the school year, he was spending his days in the nurse’s office. His teachers would send his classwork to him, he would complete it in the nurse’s office, and she would return the assignments to his teachers. He even took his final exams in her office.

During this horrific last month of the school year, I was on the phone with the school nurse, the guidance counselor, the pediatrician, the psychologist. I explained that my son would have physical symptoms in the mornings before school, in the car on the way to school, and during school. At home each evening, his symptoms subsided. Someone floated the idea of trying anti-anxiety medication. I didn’t want to go that route if we could find another way.

I talked to my son, gently trying to coax his feelings to the surface. He shared with me that math class made him feel stupid. That was the word he used: stupid. My son felt stupid. He felt like a failure. He felt hopeless. And all because he couldn’t understand Common Core Math.

What had started as Common Core Math anxiety had spread into a generalized academic anxiety, making it impossible for him to enter a classroom, or even contemplate entering a classroom, without severe stomach symptoms ensuing.

During one of my many conversations with his pediatrician, she suggested that we do some testing to see if there might be an underlying medical problem that was being aggravated by his anxiety. After X-rays, blood work, and a biopsy, my son was officially diagnosed with celiac disease. I was in shock. How could he have shown no symptoms of this disease until his academic anxiety reached epic proportions? His doctor explained that anxiety often brings celiac disease to the surface. In a way, this was a good thing. Now that we knew what we were dealing with, we could do something proactive.

We spent the summer learning about celiac disease and transitioning my son off of gluten. As ninth grade began, we were hopeful that he would be back on track to have a good school year.

After one day back in school, my son’s symptoms flared up again. His small intestine, which had been damaged by the celiac disease pre-diagnosis, had not yet healed. Throwing himself back into a high-stress situation (namely, dealing with the Common Core Curriculum) caused an immediate exacerbation of his underlying medical condition.

We decided that the best thing for our son would be to homeschool him, at least until his small intestine has healed and his celiac disease is under control. I consulted some excellent resources and was able to put a homeschool plan into effect almost overnight. It was the best thing I ever did.

My son now spends his school days learning instead of worrying. He is healthy and at peace. He spends his free time with family and friends, rather than curled in a ball in his darkened room. I have my happy boy back.

Thank you, New York State, for the way in which you implemented the Common Core Curriculum. Without the extreme stress and anxiety that it caused my son, his celiac disease could have remained undiagnosed for many years, and the damage to his small intestine could have been much worse.

Treat yourself to a book this Halloween

It’s that time of year – beautiful fall foliage to enjoy, apples to pick, and Halloween-themed stories to read. Here are a couple for you to check out:

The Ginseng Conspiracy by Susan Bernhardt

On her way to attend a Halloween Ball, Kay Driscoll, a newcomer to town, witnesses the murder of a local professor. When the official coroner’s report rules the cause of death to be accidental and the community accepts the judgement, Kay decides to uncover the truth for herself. Through her personal investigations, Kay exposes a complex conspiracy, woven deep within the thriving local ginseng industry, that involves some of the more prominent figures and families of Sudbury Falls.

With her new friends, the free-spirited herbalist Deirdre and the untamed modern woman Elizabeth, Kay discusses new clues over tea and pastries at Sweet Marissa’s Patisserie, their crime-fighting headquarters. As Kay gets closer to the heart of the conspiracy, additional murders happen in quick succession. Before long, Kay learns that the villains are gunning for her, too. Phil, her musically talented but preoccupied husband, determined to keep her safe, withholds from her the one thing she needs most: the truth.

I read this cozy mystery and truly enjoyed it! You can find it on MuseItUp Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iBooks.

And for Young Adult readers, we have:

Dream Shade by Heather Fraser Brainerd

 As if high school wasn’t tough enough, sophomore Sarah Pasmore has one extra little problem: ghosts have started appearing to Sarah and they seem to want something from her. With help from her brainy best friend, as well as a few new friends (including the hottest guy in school), Sarah must solve the mystery of what the spirits want in order to put them back to rest. To complicate matters further, a more evil spirit will go to great lengths to make sure this doesn’t happen. As they investigate the past to unravel this supernatural mystery, the teens learn a lesson in the powers of friendship and love.

Dream Shade, a YA paranormal mystery, is available at 80% off through MuseItUp Publishing and Amazon during the entire month of October.

Pick up both books, curl up with your e-reader, and have a cozy Halloween!

Elixer Bound book blitz!

Today we welcome writer friend Katie Carroll and her excellent YA Fantasy Elixir Bound. I read this book and loved it!

Katora Kase is next in line to take over as guardian to a secret and powerful healing Elixir. Now she must journey into the wilds of Faway Forest to find the ingredient that gives the Elixir its potency. Even though she has her sister and brother, an old family friend, and the handsome son of a mapmaker as companions, she feels alone.

It is her decision alone whether or not to bind herself to the Elixir to serve and protect it until it chooses a new guardian. The forest hosts many dangers, including wicked beings that will stop at nothing to gain power, but the biggest danger Katora may face is whether or not to open up her heart to love.

Ebook on sale for $.99 until September 27 on Amazon and the MuseItUp bookstore.

Signed paperback giveaway on Goodreads until September 28.

About the Author:

Katie L. Carroll began writing at a very sad time in her life after her 16-year-old sister, Kylene, unexpectedly passed away. Since then writing has taken her to many wonderful places, real and imagined. She wrote ELIXIR BOUND and the forthcoming ELIXIR SAVED so Kylene could live on in the pages of a book. Katie is also the author of the picture app THE BEDTIME KNIGHT and an editor for MuseItUp Publishing. She lives not too far from the beach in a small Connecticut city with her husband and son. For more about Katie, visit her website at www.katielcarroll.com and follow her on Twitter (@KatieLCarroll) or Tumblr.

Where are you from?

Where are you from?

It’s a standard question during interviews. My standard answer is “upstate New York.” But, really, there’s so much more to it than that.

I started life in the tiny hamlet of Ionia, New York. My family has lived there for many generations, and after moving around quite a bit during childhood and early adulthood, I ended up right back in that same little community. After getting married, I moved all of four miles away, and still spend much time in my beloved Ionia.

But the story goes back further. My grandparents were all from this area, but their parents came from many different places. I have English, French, German, and Scottish roots. My paternal grandfather was the first of his family to be born in the United States. His siblings were all born in Canada, and their parents were Scottish immigrants. I long to some day visit Scotland to trace my heritage.

What at first seems a simple question can really run quite deep. It taps into not just where you are from, but who you are. How do you view yourself? With whom do you identify? Where do you feel most at home?

So…where are you from?

Meet My Character blog hop: the incomparable Josie P. Cates

First of all, we’d like to give a shout-out to Joan Curtis for inviting us to this blog hop. You can meet her character Janie here.

Coming November 25th from MuseItUp

And now on to our Josie…

What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person?

The totally fictional Josie P. Cates is a former workers’ compensation claims adjuster who decides to strike it out on her own as a private investigator. Little does she know that this career change will lead to paranormal hijinks. Josie is stubborn, a bit disorganized, and just shy of age 30. She tends to fly by the seat of her pants, which gets her into hot water. Actually, it gets her duct-taped to chairs.

Where and When is the story set?

The story is set in the present day. It starts out in Rochester, NY, where Josie lives. It then moves to Delancie, TN, where Josie visits her mom and stepdad for Thanksgiving.

What should we know about Josie?

Ready for some backstory that we haven’t put in the books? Josie doesn’t remember her father, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances when she was a baby. If you think this may have something to do with her inability to maintain a stable romantic relationship, you may be right.

What is the main conflict/what messes up her life?

Josie thinks that she’s going to have a nice, dysfunctional holiday with her wacky family and assorted friends. Little does she know that a member of their group will disappear, and she will once again tangle with a supernatural being in order to solve the mystery. Plus, she’s having trouble with her new boyfriend, Brick.

What is Josie’s personal goal?

Josie’s initial goal is to avoid a family holiday celebration. Failing that, her goal shifts to surviving the family holiday celebration with her sanity intact. Once the disappearance occurs, her new goal is to solve the mystery before it’s too late.

You can find The Sound of Sirens on MuseItUp Publishing, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

I’m passing the baton to multi-genre author J.Q. Rose. Check out her blog here. J.Q. told me that she’s passing it along to Roseanne Dowell, whose blog is here. Happy hopping!